The Dare Stones

The famous – and, to some, infamous – Dare Stones have been a part of Brenau University lore since the late 1930s. It is a collection of a large number of engraved rocks that emerged at the height of the Great Depression purporting to solve the mystery of The Lost Colony of Roanoke, a group of settlers on an island off the coast of North Carolina that disappeared without a trace in the late 16th century. Although most of the stones are generally regarded as artifacts of artifice, the first remains of great interest to historians and archaeologists. It appears to be a message from one of the colonists, Eleanor White Dare, to her father, John White, the colony’s governor, who returned to America from a three-year trip to England to find his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter missing along with all the others he had left at Roanoke.

This stone, regarded by most authorities as the only Dare Stone, surfaced in 1937. A California man who found it while driving through the Carolina coastal region delivered the 21-pound rock engraved with strange markings to the history department of Emory University.

Through a curious series of events, the stone wound up in possession of Brenau, thanks to the curiosity of Emory history professor Haywood Pearce Jr., who was also vice president of Brenau and the son of the schools owner and president, Haywood Pearce.

Pearce Sr. agreed, when Emory would not, to acquire the stone and foot the bill for further inquiry into its authenticity. After the Pearces advertised that they would pay a reward for any other stones with strange marking, Brenau’s collection grew – and the process of unraveling the mystery became more complex.

A comprehensive history of the Dare Stones and its connections to Brenau is available in the Brenau Window feature “Brenau’s Pet Rocks.”

For more information about the Dare Stones contact us at ewd@brenau.edu.

Virginia Dare From a woodcut in “North Carolina Illustrated” in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, 1857.

Photos:

October, 2015

The Original Dare Stone (front)

The Original Dare Stone (back)

Virginia Dare From a woodcut in “North Carolina Illustrated” in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, 1857.

Haywood Pearce, Jr. with Emory colleagues James G. Lester, left, and Ben W. Gibson put the stone under the microscope.

Whitestone Productions filming scenes for the History Channel program "Roanoke: Search for the Lost Colony"

Kate Kovach of Whitestone Motion Pictures applies flour to the Dare Stones as she and the rest of the crew try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach of Whitestone Motion Pictures applies flour to the Dare Stones as she and the rest of the crew try and match stones up with the translated text.

From left Brandon McCormick, Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone Motion Pictures apply flour to the Dare Stones as she and the rest of the crew try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach of Whitestone Motion Pictures applies flour to the Dare Stones as she and the rest of the crew try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone to try and match stones up with the translated text.

From left Kate Kovach, Matt Dunaway, Brandon McCormick, Alex Watson, Zack Miller and Nick Kirk try and match the Dare Stones up with the translated text.

The Whitestone Motion Pictures crew apply flour to the Dare Stones to try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone to try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone to try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone to try and match stones up with the translated text.

Kate Kovach and Alex Watson of Whitestone to try and match stones up with the translated text.

The Whitestone Motion Pictures crew apply flour to the Dare Stones to try and match stones up with the translated text.

March, 2017

Brenau President Ed Schrader talks with Jim Viera and David Morrison during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Bill Miller, professor emeritus in the geology department at the University of North Carolina Asheville, talks with Brenau President Ed Schrader during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

David Morrison, vice president of communications & publications, during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Scientific analysis if performed on the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

The Dare Stone sits near a saw before a sample is taken during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader poses with a case holding the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

The filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Bill Miller, professor emeritus in the geology department at the University of North Carolina Asheville, talks with Brenau President Ed Schrader during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

The Dare Stone sits on a table during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader talks with Bill Viera during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Daivd Frederick gets a shot of the Dare Stone while Executive Producer Ted Bourne looks on during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Ted Bourne, executive producer, gives instructions on set during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader discusses some possible tests to run on the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader on set during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader points out features on the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Jim and Bill Viera examine some rocks during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader holds the Dare Stone after a sample was cut off the bottom during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Bill Miller, professor emeritus in the geology department at the University of North Carolina Asheville, gives a thumbs up before cutting a sample off the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Ed Schrader, right, talks with Jim Viera during the filming of
Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

A clap board for of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Bill Miller, professor emeritus in the geology department at the University of North Carolina Asheville, examines the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)

Brenau President Ed Schrader examines the Dare Stone during the filming of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven, a History Channel program, at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Brenau President Ed Schrader took the Dare Stone to undergo scientific testing in order to learn more about its origin. (AJ Reynolds/Brenau University)